Hotwire around run

[OkieCluck]

My run fence is 5 foot tall 2X4 welded wire. I'm planning on running a hotwire around the perimeter of the fence (on the outside). I'm planning on running one wire at approx. 6-8 inches above the ground and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for the height of a second hotwire? I'm torn between running it about a foot above the first wire or running it about a foot below the top of the fence.

 

[Dutchess]

It really depends on what your keeping out. If you have a problem with burrowing predators, you'll want to put the FIRST wire about 2-3 inches above the ground, then the next 6 inches above that, and if your adding another it should be around 8-12 inches above the last.
I bought a kit that I haven't found the time to install, but I have done my homework. If you don't have any burrowing predators, you could start at 6 inches, but IMHO it's worth it to start with the 2-3 inches. Do you have a barrier to keep the digging animals out? What I mean to say is, did you burry any wire around your run?

P.S. okie? Is that Okie from Mascokie (sp?). We used to sing a song when I was younger about being proud to be an okie from Mascokie. A place where even squares can have a ball...have you heard that one?

 

[OkieCluck]

Quote:
Don't have to worry too much about burrowing predators, mostly raccoons and / or opossums. I've placed the wires at about 4" and then again at about 12", hopefully this will work. My chicks are in a very secure coop at night, so I'm mainly just trying to be on the safe side.

I'm very familliar with that song, pretty sure that was played about every 15 minutes on the radio when I was a kid!! I see you're from York county, Maine. I've got family in Sanford, father in law and brother in law. Love going to visit and eating all those lobsters and clams!

 

[wyododge]

Sounds like you have it handled, the only thing I would suggest is to ground your welded wire with a 2 or 3' piece of rebar to make sure they get a full jolt the first time they hit it. It really helps to adjust their attitude about getting in the run.

 

[OkieCluck]

I'm hoping it's grounded good. We've got the fence buried 4" into the ground and T posts attached to the fence every 6 feet. The T posts are driven into the ground about 18". Do you think I should wire up a ground rod also? Maybe drive it in to 3 or 4 feet?

 

[wyododge]

Quote:
The thing about grounding ( for this purpose) is it requires moisture. I'm not sure 4" is going to make it and until your t posts lose some of the paint they may not provide enough either. I would sink some kind of bare metal a foot or so.

 

[twentynine]

If you don't have burrowing predators now-- you soon will. You need to protect your birds from ALL possible predators, before they strike. Finding out a digger has moved into the nieghborhood by having your birds preyed upon is not the way to do it. From the getgo, you need to protect against crawling, digging, and flying predators. Be proactive-- not reactive!

I use electric fencing to protect my birds. Three hot wires, 4", 12" (on 3" stand off insulators) and one around the top. Hook your 2x4 fencing to the ground side of the charger with an additional ground rod.

Usually even if you have a digging predator they will nose up to the fence, sniff around a bit to try for an easy way in. That's when the hot wire will put the sting on'em.

Let me explain---

fence charger + is hooked to the conductors, in my case 3 wires around the circumference of my chicken run. INCLUDING the gate.

fence charger - I installed a ground rog 6' into the earth using the proper clamp to connect to the charger. Also I used a second wire connection between the run fencing and the charger - .

Why?

In dry conditions a chicken dinner seeking animal may stand on the earth touch the hot wire and not recieve a jolt. With the second ground connected to the fencing itelf, the animal may stand on dry ground, or he may levitate in mid air, but if he touches the run fencing and a hot wire he will recieve a hair burning jolt.

 

[gale65]

My husband said that grass growing and touching the wire will short it out. It seems like it would be hard to keep grass off at 2-3" unless you have concrete there. Around here the grass grows right through gravel and rock and sometimes even plastic. Maybe there is a different type of hotwire that isn't affected by grass or other growing things? We have cattle so dh has lots of experience with hotwires. I want to put some up for when we go on vacation next year but he insists that grass will grow and touch it even in the amount of time we're gone.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Maybe drive it in to 3 or 4 feet?

Your charger instructions most likely recommend 3 ground rods 6-8 ft deep​

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

It seems like it would be hard to keep grass off at 2-3" unless you have concrete there

I wouldn't go lower than 6" to stop climbers.

An apron is the best way to stop diggers​